Mere Apne 1971

Mere Apne is a 1971 Indian Bollywood musical, family drama, drama, social film released on Jan 01, 1971. The film is directed by Gulzar, produced by N. C. Sippy.

Anandi has been a widow for several years, living all herself in a small village. One day out of the blue comes Arun Gupta, claiming to her relative, and literally begs her to come to live with him and his family in the city, which she does. Once in the city, she finds out that things are not the same as in the village, there is very little or no compassion, violence, gang-fights, and children being abused. She befriends one such abused child and attempts to bring him to the Gupta family, and she finds out that she is not welcome there anymore. She finds out that Arun had actually brought her to the city, not of pity, love or compassion, but for doing household duties, and baby-sitting, without any wages. She moves out and lives in a broken-down structure with the homeless child, hoping and waiting that someday, someone will actually come for her, and claim her as family.

Story of an old widow (Kumari) who becomes a silent witnes to two violent eras in Indias history: the Partition riots and the criminal politics amid gang warfare in the 60s. Persuaded by an acquaintance to move from her tranquil village home to the city to look after their child, the woman finds herself lost on the streets until she is offerd shelter by Shyam (Khanna), a notorious gangster fighting with the leader of a rival gang (Sinha). The widows tales, and her maternal concern for Shyams criminal friends, make her an oasis of peace amid the prevailing violence. In the end she becomes the unintended victim of their violence, restoring peace in her death. The story is intercut with flashbacks of the widows oppressive marriage to a Nautanki performer (Verma) during the Parition riots which led to the death of her husband. Gulzars directorial debut adapted Sinhas controversial Apanjan (1968), relocating the plot from its original Naxalite Bengal into a North Indian milieu. The film is held together mainly by Meena Kumari in what was, together mainly by Meena Kumari in what was, together with Pakeezah (1971), one of her last major screen performances. Check out this page for more updates on Mere Apne.